Lex Fridman Podcast #183 – Po-Shen Loh: Mathematics, Math Olympiad, Combinatorics & Contact Tracing
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May 14, 2021 
Po-Shen Loh, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and coach for the USA International Math Olympiad team, dives into the captivating world of mathematics. He discusses its role in contemporary issues like contact tracing during pandemics, emphasizing privacy concerns. Loh also highlights innovative teaching methods that inspire creativity in problem-solving over rote memorization. Furthermore, he shares insights on the intricacies of mathematical competitions and the philosophical aspects of mathematical truths, blending humor with complex concepts like the P vs NP problem.
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High School Game Development
- Po-Shen Loh wrote games like Alien Attack in high school for MS-DOS.
- He enjoyed the process of building something from scratch, from pixel drawing to game logic.
Educational vs. Entertaining Podcasts
- Po-Shen Loh values the combination of education and entertainment in podcasts.
- He believes the best podcasts oscillate between serious exploration and casual conversation.
Lex Fridman's Memory
- Lex Fridman describes his memory as forgetting details but retaining core concepts.
- He calls these retained concepts "platonic forms."